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Research Ethics Office

Murdoch University Institutional Biosafety Committee

Working with genetically modified organisms at Murdoch Uinversity

All work with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) within Australia and it’s territories is regulated by the Gene Technology Act 2000. To administer the act the federal government has established the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).

Murdoch have received accreditation from the OGTR for the purposes of conducting experimental work with GMO’s. Within the university the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for administration of the regulations. All work with GMO’s must be notified to the IBC. This is a requirement whether you constructed the GMO, or whether it was constructed elsewhere.

What is a GMO?

1. An organism modified by gene technology.
2. An organism that has inherited traits from an organism (the initial organism) being traits that occurred in the initial organism because of gene technology.
3. Anything declared by the regulations to be a GMO, or that belongs to a class of things declared by the regulations to be a GMO.

How do I go about starting work with GMO’s?

Make sure that the laboratory or other facility is certified for work with GMO’s.

Fill in the appropriate application form and submit to the IBC. For further assistance with this go to APPLICATION PROCESS.

Responsibilities of Researchers working with GMO’s.